Re: What are the criteria for "Zones"?

From: "Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden" htbg at ilhawaii.net> on 2002.05.22 at 02:46:58(8841) Hi Ron, Climate zones are also called hardiness zones and generally refer to the degree of cold, without much reference to degree of warmth. Frustrating for those of us in warmer climes, there is very little information on cold REQUIREMENT of plants. For example, it seems you are in USDA Climate Zone 9, which is comparable to San Francisco, California. You would be highly successful with fuchsia, bulbous begonia, etc. However, here in Hilo, Hawaii where the lowest temperature year-round rarely hits 60 F, (15.6 C.), we cannot grow these beauties and there is little horticultural information on this so we try and fail... however, with some things we do succeed. I am growing a fine example of the Alaskan Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis f. pendula) with no problem at all! Check this website: www.aroid.org/horticulture/zonemap/europe.html +More With all best wishes, Scott ----- Original Message ----- To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 1:44 PM Subject: What are the criteria for "Zones"? Please can someone explain what criteria are used for "Zones"? With a range of rarely freezing to rarely touching 80F, what "Zone" is West Cork Ireland? This is 20F too low in summer & 30-40F too low in winter for growing Spaths outside, especially with sea winds etc. Ron

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